Recording studio

A recording studio is a facility for sound recording.

History

Early recording studios often lacked isolation booths, baffles, and sometimes even speakers. Designed for live recording of an entire band or performance, they attempted rather to group musicians and singers than to separate them. (Modern sound stages sometimes use this approach for large film scoring projects today.)

Related Topics:
Sound stage - Film scoring

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With the introduction of multi-track recording, it became possible to record instruments and singers separately and at different times on different tracks on tape. Therefore, the emphasis shifted to isolation and sound-proofing. In the 1960s, recordings were analog recordings made using ¼-inch or ½-inch eight-track magnetic tape. By the early 1970s, recordings progressed to using 1-inch or 2-inch 16- or 32-track equipment. Most contemporary recording studios now use digital recording equipment and the number of tracks is limited only by the capacity of the mixing console or computer.

Related Topics:
Multi-track recording - 1960s - Analog recording - Magnetic tape - 1970s - Digital recording - Mixing console

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General purpose computers are assuming a larger role in the recording process, being able to replace the mixing consoles, recorders, synthesizers, samplers and sound effects devices. A computer thusly outfitted is called a Digital Audio Workstation. Popular software packages for recording studios include Digidesign Pro Tools, Cubase and Nuendo by Steinberg, Motu Digital Performer, Ableton Live and Apple Logic Pro. Apple Macintosh hardware tends to be favored in the recording industry, though much software is also available for Microsoft Windows and Linux. There are also dedicated computers which integrate a recorder, preamps, effects, and a mixing console; these devices are also called DAWs.

Related Topics:
Mixing console - Recorders - Synthesizer - Sampler - Digital Audio Workstation - Digidesign - Pro Tools - Cubase - Nuendo - Steinberg - Motu - Digital Performer - Ableton Live - Logic Pro - Macintosh - Microsoft Windows - Linux - Preamp

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A small, personal recording studio is sometimes called a project studio. Such studios often cater to specific needs of an individual artist, or are used as a non-commercial hobby. The first modern project studios came into being during the late 1980s, with the advent of affordable multitrack recorders, synthesizers and microphones. The phenomenon has flourished with falling prices, MIDI equipment, and inexpensive digital hard-disk recording solutions.

Related Topics:
1980s - Multitrack - Synthesizers - Microphone - MIDI - Digital hard-disk recording

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